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Whatever you think of when you think of Eurovision – whether you recall Abba with their jangly pianos, platform shoes and rampant sax; or Loreen doing her weird, ethereal Kate-Bush-in-the-club dancing – there’s a common thread that runs throughout it all.

That thread is Sweden.

Where former Eurovision powerhouses like France, Ireland and the UK have all seen their dominance wane as the competition has grown to encompass 40-plus countries, Sweden has gone from strength to strength.

Over the last 20 years, Swedes have dominated the competition. The most successful country in the 21st-century contest by quite some margin, Sweden has managed to win the whole thing three times, finish in the top five...